Storm drop two on final day in Minnesota

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- Despite a pair of solid performances from Lexie Parks, the Simpson volleyball team lost its final two matches at the Saint Benedict Tournament on Saturday. The Storm lost to Valley City State in three sets and St. Scholastica in four.

The Storm are now 3-6 on the young season and return home host Central in the American Rivers Conference opener on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Start time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Cowles Fieldhouse.

Valley City State 3, Simpson 0
Set Scores: 25-16, 25-23, 25-22

Lexie Parks led Simpson with 10 kills and a .391 hitting percentage. Madison Hawtrey added seven kills and seven digs and Alyssa Mathews handed out 20 assists. Simpson hit .126 against the Vikings, who hit .265.

St. Scholastica 3, Simpson 1
Set Scores: 27-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18

Parks had another big match with 13 kills, leading three Simpson players in double figures. Hawtrey also contributed 13 and Morgan Taylor chipped in with 11. Mathews finished with 43 assists and Ariana Martinez led the back row with 20 digs.

The Storm fought back from a seven-point deficit in a crucial third set, pulling within 22-21 on a Megan LeMay kill. But Haley Rohwer responded with a kill of her own and the Saints closed the set. The Storm scored the first point in a must-win fourth set, but St. Scholastica rattled off four straight points and led the rest of the way.